Gasometer



atented cf... 26, 1926.

PATE.

OFFICE.

ROBERT MEZGER, OF STUTTGART. GERMANY. ASSIGNOR T0 THE FIRM: PATIL LECHLER, OF STUTTGART, GERMANY.

GASOMETER.

No Drawing. Application filed March 6 1925, Serial No. 13,654. and in Germany June 20, 1924.

My invention refers to the protection of gasometers against rust and corrosion and more especially to means whereby the inner surface of such iron gasometers can safely be protected against such corrosion without being compelled to interrupt the service or to endure the loss of valuable hydrocarbons and the like.

The protection of the inner surface of the gasometers in gas works plays an important role since the moment where the so-called removal of oil, i. e. the removal of hydrocarbons of the benzene series from the coal gas has been resorted to in order to utilize these hydrocarbons in an economical manner. lBy thus removing the benzene hydrocarbons the protection of the gasometer vaults afforded by the gas itself due to the inner walls becoming coated with these hydrocarbons does no more exist and the frequent use of additional water gas has even increased the danger of corrosion. This corrosion is mainly due to the presence of moisture and small quantities of oxygen contained in the gas, these two factors being the principal causes of rusting while the carbonic acid contained in the gas acts'towards accelerating the formation of rust. On the other hand the carbonic monoxide the percentage of which is increased by the addition of water gas acts on the iron walls under the formation of iron carbonyl. Moreover the water forming the liquid seal for the gasometer will absorb electrically dissociable compounds which are also well known to favor rusting and corrosion.

Hitherto it has been impossible to avoid the danger threatening the gasometer walls. Notwithstanding the great economical losses resulting therefrom some gas works have even gone so far as to leave part of the valuable hydrocarbons in the gas in order to obtain the formation of a protective coating of hydrocarbons on the inner walls of the gasometer.

The protection of the inner surfaces of the gasometer bells by painting is not feasible in practice owing to the inaccessibility of these surfaces during operation. painting by oiling, as has hitherto been ef- To replace the fected with regard to the outer surfaces of the bells is practically out of the question for two reasons: Firstly, the cost of the quantity of oil consumed in covering the whole surface of the water within the bell with oil is prohibitive and further no firmly adhering oil film would be formed on the inner surfaces of the bell, as it is lowered and lifted in contact with the oil because a very thin film of water will always remain on the metal and will prevent the oil from adhermg to it.

According to the present invention a protect ve coating of oil on the inner walls of gasometers can easily be produced with a comparatively small quantity of oil by causmg a strong jet of oil under pressure to implnge upon the lower part of the inner walls of the gasometer in such manner that this part of the walls is intensely wetted with the oil. If this has been done the surface of the water near the wall will be covered with the oil flowing off the walls, the quantity of oil deposited on the water being determined by the quantity which is normally required for coat-111g the inner walls of the gasometer with a protective oil layer. I have found that this oil will form an annular layer closely ad-- joining the walls. On the metal rings formmg the gasometer being then submerged in the water, their inner walls will automatically take up the oil supernatant on the water and this oil will adhere to the walls owing to their inner surface having not yet come in contact and been vetted by the water.

Obviously the introduction into and apphcatlon under pressure onto the lowermost parts of the inner walls of the gasometer can be carried out easily and the quantity of oil required for the coating of the entire inner walls is not surpassed as would be the case. if the entire surface of the water inside the bell were covered with oil.

I wish it to be understood that I do-not desire to be limited to the exact mode of proceeding above described, for obvious modificattnons will occur to a person skilled in the ar I claim 1. The method of protecting the interior walls of gasometer bells and lhe like against rust and corrosion comprising bhe spraying of said walls with a jet of oil under pressure at a height slightly above ihe sealing Water and the provision thereby of a substaiiiially concentric ring of oil on said sealing Water and adhering to said Walls,

2. In the method as claimed in claim 1., the step of causing the gasometer bell to descend through said concentric ring of oil, whereby said oil is caused to adhere to the interior Walls of said bell.

In testimony whereof I aifix my signature.

DR. ROBERT MEZGER. 

